Evaluation of some heavy metals in roadside soil along Samaru-Giwa road, Zaria, Nigeria
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 10
Abstract
This research work was carried out to evaluate the concentrations of some heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn) in roadside soil along Samaru-Giwa road, Zaria, Nigeria. Four sampling locations were selected (ABUTH, NAPRI, Marabar Guga and ABU Dam Quarters in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria main campus which served as the control site). Soil samples were collected at 0, 50, 100 and 200 m distances from the roadside in three replicates, air dried at room temperature, sieved and kept in specimen bottles with appropriate labels pending analysis. Samples were digested and analyzed for concentrations of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Manganese (Mn) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Concentrations of these heavy metals were observed to be significantly higher at 0 m than the other distances from the roadside and this decreased with increasing distance from the roadside. There was generally no significant difference in soil heavy metal concentration at 50- 200 m from the roadside. Soil lead concentration was mostly observed to be higher than that of all other metals studied. The concentrations of heavy metals observed in the soil samples was in the order of Pb>Mn>Zn >Cd >Cu. The contamination factors for individual heavy metal for the locations showed low to moderate contamination by the metals. Among the locations studied, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, (ABUTH) showed the highest concentration of the most heavy metals while ABU Dam Quarters (Control), had the lowest concentration of most of the heavy metals. The study showed that, nearness to the roadside increased the soil heavy metal concentrations and this could invariably influence the same in crops planted or farm produce being dried along the roadside.
Authors and Affiliations
A. Garba, S. O. Alonge
Keywords
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